Middle English Dictionary Entry
frōward adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | frōward adj. Also fraward & fromward, framward, frommard, vrommard. |
| Etymology | From frō & from; cp. OE fromweard about to depart or pass away. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of persons: (a) different, deviant, contrary; (b) averse or opposed (to a course of action), unwilling; (c) unruly, intractable, disobedient; stubborn, willful, perverse; (d) unkind, hostile, malevolent; hateful, wicked, evil; -- also as noun; (e) bellicose, warlike; as noun: brave warrior.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)67b : Lo nu, hu frommard [vr. urommard; L contrarious] beoð ontfule ure lauerd.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Meas.Treas.(Hrl 2255)56 : To punysshe extorcioun..And brynge alle vnto correccioun That be froward vnto the iust mesour.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2025 : Þouȝ so be þat Achille Be froward to helpe hem in her nede.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3178 : Þis lady, passing debonayre, To þis mordre was froward and contrayre.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2546 : Whan ye be froward in your magnyficence To knowe the Lord and bowe be meeknesse.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)156/7 : Þei are froward to kepe goddys comaundmentys.
c
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.21.18 : A rebel sone and a fraward [WB(2): ouerthewert; L protervum].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17b : Contumax: proud, wrong, froward.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)50b : Plexuosus: from warde.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)45/709 : Who brekys þe fourþe comaundement?..froward men..For þey wil take no gostly techynge.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2953 : As..it was nede, Þe froward peple by sharp lawes bynde.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)155/27 : He þat is froward folwyth neyþer skyl ne resoun, but he wolde all thing were don at his wyll. He wolde men plesyd him, but he wyll plese no man.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.178 : If thou trouble John, thy brother..I shal yeve ye Goddys curse..for thou hast be ever frowarde to me.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)175 : Frowarde: contrarius, peruersus, proteruus.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)225 : Ofte tyme..þe Cristyn man is froward & contrarye to the wille of god.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1755 : It were gret wronge..for to ben vnkynde To hir þat ȝe so frendly to ȝou fynde, Or to be froward while she is benygne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6977 : Genyvs þe prest, Þat curseth ay, with candel in his fist, Hem þo echon þat froward be to Kynde.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)43b/b : Nequam: froward, wickyd.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4285 : This froward dragoun..Whos fretyng etik ther may no plente feede.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3345 : I fellid down sir Frolle with frowarde knyghtes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)1/22 : With a sowr cowntenance and a froward luke.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)67 : Ye cruell hertes mercyles..Put clene fro yow your froward crewelnes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)239/26 : He was..benigne to his subiectes, discrete with the froward.
e
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.59 : Hanibal was so froward and so cruel..þat þey schulde nevere overcome hym.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4629 : Lo her the myght of Mars, the froward sterre; Lo what it is for-to gynne a werre.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)132 : They must be Frowardis þat delithe with euyll frekis.
2.
Of things, events, and actions: (a) contrary, repugnant; of appearance: ugly; (b) of behavior, the emotions: unnatural, wrong; immoderate; (c) of fortune and dreams: untoward, unfavorable, bad; (d) of the weather: inclement; (e) of action: difficult, hard.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8103 : Be-halden vs inogh has þou, Vr fraward scapp..For lath ar we.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.33 : A monstre..froward of shappe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12457 : The cours off sensualyte To my desyr ys so ffroward.
b
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)45 : Þeo luue þat ne may her abyde..hit is fals & mereuh & frouh And fromward in vychon tide.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.4319 : He..Feyneth fals pouert to sparen his dispence, Oppressyng plente with froward indigence.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1031 : To eschewyn alle excessys prudently, And specially al froward Outragious largesse.
- c1450 Lydg.Diet.(Lamb 853)19 : Drinke not bitwene melis for no froward delite, But if þurst or traueile ȝeue þee occasioun.
c
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)182 : Fleo al frouward þing [F aduersyte].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2895 : The froward soort and [the] vnhappy stoundys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5411 : It is..soth, That unto men more profit doth The froward Fortune and contraire, Than the swote and debonaire.
- c1450 Metham Days Moon (Gar 141)154/6 : Qwat froward dreme a body haue, yt schuld turne to no trwth.
d
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)121/2488 : Þe weder was cold and froward.
e
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)7302 : Ȝe er to fraward wid to dele, For nouþer er ȝe war ne wise.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6611 : Euery foule is froward to arest, For to be daunted in his owne nest.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2805 : Harm doon be kynde is froward to recure.
- c1480(1422) Lydg.SD (Add 48031)50/27 : Demyng..that tyme loste..was aftirward full froward to be recovered.